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'Aug. 16. 1927.

I w. J. CARLEY IRE CLAN? Original Filed Jan. 31. 1920 v INVENTOR:

mmJameii'arleg BY rromvsvi- I Reissued Aug. 16, 19 27.

UNITED. STATES- This invention relates to certain improvements in wireclamps and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection-with a trolley wire, and

novel and improved clamp of this general character whereby the wire may be effectively. supported from a hanger or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved device of this general character embodying a pair ofcoacting clamping jaw members or ears together with novel and improved means 5 whereby said clamping-jaw lnembers or cars are prevented from falling, out. v

An additional object of the invention is to rovide adevice. of this general character 1 iiaving novel and improved means whereby 20 the clam ing jaw members or ears arecaus'ed same is employed,

. The invention consists'in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of'my improved clamp 'Whereby certain important advanta es are attained and the. device rendere simpler, less ex ensiveiand other- .wise more convenient a advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I The novel hereinafter be definitely claimed. Y

. In order that m invention may be the better understood, v will now proceed'to describe the same with'reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Big. I .s-a; view in elevation of a wireclamp constructed, in accordance .with an em- 40 bodiment ofmy invention. v

.Fig. II is a sectional view taken substantially on the line IIII of Fig. I. i Fig. IIIis a-view in top lan ofthe structure as herein disclosed wit the hangerstud 4 engaging member removed. I

Fig. IV is a view of the device in end elevation; and

asherein employed. p Y As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, l'denotes a suspension member or nut provided with the socket 2, or the like, adaptedto receive a stud or hanger of a coni ventional type The nut 1 includesa shank it is'anobject ofthe invention to provide a be toftight y. engage thewire with which the.

features of my invention will i Fig. V is a;view in plan of the split ring PATENT OFFICE.

wmmmcimns 'cAxIJI'Y, or consult, VIRGINIA, AssIoNonro MARIE BESSIEBS,

' or cnnrnrnn, vrnomnu.

WHIRE CLAMP.

Original No. 1,332,620, dated June as, 1921, Serial m. ssas'seniea January :1, i920, Application for reissue filed April 10, 1922. Serial No.-551,361.

portion 3 provided adjacent its outer or free end with an annular groove 'or channel 4, defining a head 4 at the lowerend of said shanksthe upper surface of the head constitut ng a supporting led e i", in a manner to presently noted. A

T e jaw'members or ears '6 are of duplicate construction and are adapted to be ti 'htly clampedorengaged upon the wire ach of the jaw members 6 is provided with an inwardly dispose'd'lip or flan substantially semicircular in form and w ich is somewhat loosely. received within the groove 4. Each ofthe members 6 is also v e said groove or. channel 4, the shank 3 is provided with the *peri hera'l threads 5.

whereby-said nut when screwed down upon the abutment shoulders 8 of the jaw members 6 causes said jaw members to tightly clamp the wire W. The end portion of the bore of the nut 10 opposed to the member 6 is enlarged to receive theflanges 9 whereby the jawsfi are prevented from falling out.

I also find it of advanta e to provide the shank 3 above the threade portion 5 with a second annular groove or channel 11 in whichiis adapted to be tightly pinched orotherwise fitteda splitring 12, ot soft iron,

and which, ring 12, when applied, extends beyond the periphery of theshank 3 and serves to prevent the nut lO from screwing up too far with respect to the jaw members ,6 whereby further. means are provided to prevent said jaw members from fallin or dropping out. Theannular groove or c an nel t-in the shank 3 permits'the jaw memhere or earsG tosw ivel or rotate around the shank 3 so that said jaw'members or' ears may be effectively engaged with thewire W. As is clearl. illustrated in Fig, II, the

wall of the soc et2 of the suspensionmemher 1 is threaded so that the same may be effectively engaged with; astud or him er of the type now enerally employed. I is alsot-o be particularly noted that the outer or upper end of the member 1 is provided with an outstanding hexagonal head or the like to afford means whereby said member 1 may be conveniently screwed or threaded upon the hanger or stud.

In operation, the nut or compression mem ber 10 is turned up so as to be shifted along the shank 3 to a position as closely adjacent to the angular headl thereof as possible channel 4 and the upstanding flanges 9 10- cated so as to be received within the recess .bers 6. Attention isdirected at this moment to the fact that the outer walls of the flanges 9 are beveled and that when the clamping members 6 are assembled in operative relation sa-id flanges 9 conjointly act to form a substantial frusto-conical retaining member. The recess in the under face of the compression member 10 is likewise conical in configuration to conform to the shape of said retaining member. The clamping members 6 are now supported by virtue of the lips 7 which rest upon the ledge 4 afforded by the head 4 on the lower end of the shank 3. [The compression member 1( is now lowered by rotating the same relative to the supporting shank 3 until. the flanges 9 are received inits recess and its lower surface engages the extreme edges of, the abutment shoulders 8. This relation is clearly shown in Fig. IV. By continuing rotation of the compression member 10, the clamping members 6 are rocked in unison around the points of contact between the peripheryof the shank head P and the lower surfaces of the lips 7, causing the extreme lower ends of the clamping members 6 to move toward each other into clamping engagement with the wire W and causing the upper edges ofthe flanges 9 to move apart slightly and fill the space within the recess of the compression member. By forcing rotation of the compression member 10, the parts 6 are placed under strain and the trolley wire W thus tightly grasped. When engaging a trolley'wire of proper gauge, the abutment shoulder surfaces and thecompression member will be in mutual contact throughout practically the entire area of said surfaces, and thus no openings are permitted in which moisture or viously be varied by adjustivelyrotating the compression member 10; It will be seen that if, at any time subsequent to assembly of the parts, the compression member 10 should be loosened and raised to the point of engagement with the split ring 12,'the clamping members 6, while very loose and capable of being separated so as to permit interchange of trolley wires W or to facilitate repairs or adjustments, will be nevertheless held against dislodgment from the remaining parts of the device by reason of interfering engagement of the corners of the llps 7 with the walls of the channel 4 and the flanges 9 with thewalls of the compression nut recess. As a result of the construction described, a very facile manipulation of the device is permitted, particularly, in dark locations, as in tunnels, where the workman depends to' a considerable extent upon the sense of touch in assembling the parts in proper relation. Thus, the head land the nut 10, being of the same size and of the same polygonal form, may be grasped simul taneously, as between the jaws of a wrench which may span both the head 1 and the nut 10, and by rotating said elements in unison in one direction cause the supporting shank 3 to be easily threaded onto a depending stud, or the like, without affecting any adjustment or relative movement of the clamping members 6. After the shank 3 has been tightened upon the stud, the wrench may be lowered so as to grasp only the compression nut 10 andby rotating the same in 'a direction reverse to that used when applyaccomplishes-only the purpose of preventing ,removal of the clamping members 6 from the shank 3. A fcontinue d turning down of the compression nut causes movement ofthe clamping members 6' to. clamping engagement. Obviously the workman moves the clamping members 6' around, by striking them a sharp blow, for the purpose of bring ing them into parallelism with the trolley wire W. 1 p

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a. clamp constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying 'out'my invention in inafter claimed. Having thus claim I I 1. A suspension device comprising'a support; a pair of clamping members engaged thereon and adapted for movement inn-nison' relative to the support; a compression member carried directly by the support in adjustable relation to engage and m'ove'the clamping members into mutual clampingrelation; an enclosing means carried bythe Compression member; and retaining members' carried by the clamping members and receivable within said encl'osi'ng means whereby the clamping members are retained upon the support,

2. A suspension device comprising a support; a pair of clamping members engaged thereon, and each having an elevated abutment shoulder; an arcuate tapering retaining member formed on each clamping member cooperating to form a frusto-conical. extension; and a compression member threaded upon the support and movable to engage the said shoulders and urge the clamping members together into clamping relation, said compression member having a conical recess in which to receive the conical extension.

3. A suspension device comprising a support; a pair of unconnected clamping mem bers engaged'on the support; a comprespracti'ce. except as heredescribed' my invention, I

gage and move the clamping members into clamping relation, said compression member having a recess; retaining means on the clamping members entering the recess to prevent dislodgment of the clamping members fromthe support when the compression member is in a wholly or partially clamping position; and means subsequently embodied in the device to prevent movement of the compression member to a position wherein the retaining means are completely released from the recess.

4. A suspension device comprising a supporthaving an annular groove at one end; a pair of clamping members engaged in the groove; an elevated shoulder on each clamp- ,ing member; a retaining enlargement on each clamping member; and a compression member threaded 0n the support and adapted to engage said shoulders to move the clamping members into clamping position and to embrace the retaining enlargements to prevent dislodgment of the clamping members from the support.

5. A suspension device comprising a threaded support having an annular groove at one end; a pair of clamping members engaged in the groove; an abutment shoulder formed on each clamping member; a retaining lug formed on each clamping member; a nut threaded on the support; and a resion member carried by the support to en-' cessed enlargement formed on the nut adapted to engage the said shoulders -toforce the clamping members into clam-ping relation andv to embrace therein the retaini-i-ig lugs so as to prevent dislodgment of the clamping members from the support.

- 6. A clamp for a trolley wire con'iprising, in combination, a supporting member adapt-- ed for engagement with a hanger stud and having an annular groove at one end, two clamping members engaged with the sup-- porting member and capable of movement relative thereto, each of said clamping members being provided with an external abutment shoulder, and a tubular compression member threaded upon the supporting member and adapted to engage said abutment shoulders to force the clamping members one toward the other, the face of the compression member being provided with a recess, said clamping members being provided with up standing flanges extending within said recess, the recess of said tubular compression member constituting an enlargementof its bore.

7. A- clamp for a trolley wire, comprising, in combination, a supporting member adapted for engagement with a hanger stud; an end portion of said member being provided with an annular channel; clamping members provided with inwardly directed lips seating within the said annular channel, each of said clamping members being provided with an external abutment shoulder; and a compression member threaded upon the supporting member and engageable with the abutment shoulders of the clamping members to force said clamping members one toward the other.

8. A clamp for a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a supporting member adapted for engagement with a hanger stud; an end portion of said member-being provided with an annular channel; clamping members provided with inwardly directed lips seating within said channel, each of said clamping members being provided with an abutment shoulder; a compression member threaded upon said supporting member and engageable with the said abutment shoulders to force said clamping members one toward the other; and means carried by the supporting member to limit the movement'of the compression member in a direction away from the abutment shoulders.

9. A clamp for a trolley wire comprising, in combination, a supporting member adapt ed for engagement with a hanger stud; an end portion of said member being provided with an annular channel; clamping mem' bers provided with inwardly directed lips seating within said channel, each of said clamping 'members being provided with an external abutment shoulder; a compression member threaded upon the supporting member and engageable with said abutment shoulders to force said clamping members one toward the other; and means carried by the supporting member to limit the movement of the compression member in a direction away from the abutment shoulders, said compression member being provided with an annular recess, and the clamping members being provided with flanges extending within said recess, said flanges being arranged within the recess at all times.

10. In a Wire clamp, a suspension member having a threaded shank; a pair of independent clamping members engaged upon 15 the suspension member; and a compression nut surrounding the shank and carried by the same in threaded engagement and adapted to be screwed down upon the clamping members initially to a posltion merely to prevent removal of the clamping members from the shank, and subsequently, by continued screwing movement to move said clamping members into engagement with a trolley wire without preventing rotation of the clamping members relative to the support.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Gulpeper, Virginia, this thirtieth day of March, 1922.

WILLIAM JAMES CARLEY. 

